Match book holder

ABSTRACT

A device to retain a book of matches wherein the match book is located directly adjacent a base plate with the lower edges of the match book frictionally wedged within a U-shaped lip of the base plate, the match book is confined against lateral movement by upstanding sides connected to the base plate, a cover is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the base plate, the cover is to frictionally lock with the sides when in the closed position.

United States Patent [191 Van Meter 1 Mar. 19, 1974 MATCH BOOK HOLDER 2.285.836 6/1942 Rettenmeyer 206/33 W Invent James Adams van Meter, 15357 5.333.455 l/132i $253232 Sr. 532/33 Magnolia Blvd, Van Nuys, Calif.

Primary Exammer--William T. Dixson, Jr. Flledz Jam 6, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Geauque Appl. No: 215,881

[52] US. Cl ..206/107, 206/115, 206/118 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 11/00, A24f 27/00 [58] Field of Search 206/37 R, 38 B, 33, 39, 206/29, 57 R, 58 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 749.539 l/l904 Dodge 206/33 1.451.279 4/1923 Strietelmeierm. 2.611879 lO/l952 Carr, Jr 206/58 1212068 l/l9l7 Jones et al. 206/57 R 5 7 ABSTRACT A device to retain a book of matches wherein the match book is located directly adjacent a base plate with the lower edges of the match book frictionall'y wedged within a U-shaped lip of the base plate, the match book is confined against lateral movement by upstanding sides connected .to the base plate, a cover is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the base plate, the cover is to frictionally lock with the sides when in the closed position.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures MATCH BOOK HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional form of a book of matches is composed of twenty individual matches which are secured to a paper cover. The lower side of the front portion of the paper cover is formed into a striker plate. A match is to by physically removed from the book and then struck against the striker plate to effect lighting of the match.

The safe procedure for striking a match is for a person, after removing a match from the match book, to close the cover of the match book prior to striking the match. However, people frequently do not take the time to close the cover of the match book but strike the match prior to closing the cover. Occasionally a spark from the match that is being lit will come into contact with the other matches within the book, resulting in the entire book of matches igniting. This ignition of the entire book has been known to severely burn the hand or hands of the user.

The main drawback to the paper cover of the conventional book of matches is that it cannot be easily closed. Therefore, the tendency is for a person to neglect closing the cover before striking the match. Previously, there have been attempts at designing apparatuses which protected a conventional match book which provided a cover which was readily closable and made it easy for the person to close the cover to protect the match book prior to striking of a match. However, such apparatuses have been formed of a rather complex arrangement of parts which resulted in a high retail cost. Such a high cost prohibited widespread use of such apparatuses. Also, such apparatuses have been constructed in such a way as to be bulky so as to form a substantial bulge when located within a persons pocket. Further, the devices of the prior art have been relatively heavy which also deterred from such being readily carried around by a person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The match book holder of this invention is to overcome the above-noted disadvantages and is to be constructed of a lightweight material, composed of relatively few parts and simple to operate, and is of a size which is just slightly larger than the conventional match book. The device of this invention employs the use of a base plate with the lower edge of the base plate being formed into an elongated U-shaped lip. The base of the match book is to be wedged within the U-shaped lip and frictionally held in position adjacent the base plate. An upstanding side is connected at each lateral edge of the base plate. A cover is hingedly mounted to the upper edge of the base plate and is to be pivotable to a closed position over the match portion of the match book with the cover leaving exposed the striker portion of the match book. When in the closed position, the cover and the sides cooperate to engage each other with a positive locking action. The edge of the cover, adjacent the striker portion, is flared outwardly so as to facilitate manual pivoting movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position.

One advantage of the holder of this invention is that it helps prevent the matches from becoming moist clue to perspiration when carried in a persons pocket.

Also, a primary disadvantage of a conventional match book is that once a few matches are removed,

the closing of the conventional cover becomes even more difficult. Therefore, normally the person then places the open match book within a pocket or purse which is quite hazardous. The holder of this invention, by being easily operable, deters from a person inserting such in pocket or purse in the open state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of the device of this invention showing the device in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of this invention showing the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the device of this invention with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of this invention with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device of this invention with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the device of this invention with the cover in the open position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of this invention with the cover in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2 showing more clearly the engagement means between the cover and the sides when in the closed position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3 showing more clearly the hinged connection between the top and the base plate when the cover is in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown the device lO-of this invention being basically composed of a base plate 12, a cover 14 and sides 16 and 18. The base plate 12 is shown to be formed of a thin lightweight sheet material such as aluminum or a plastie with the configuration of the base plate comprising a rectangle. The actual size of the base plate is designed to be slightly larger than the rectangular configuration of the conventional book of matches.

At the lower edge of the base plate is integrally formed a lip 20. The lip 20 basically has a U-shaped configuration. The sides 16 and 18 are integral extensions of the base plate 12 and extend in an upward direction substantially perpendicular to the base plate toward the cover 14 (when in the closed position).

The cover 14 includes laterally spaced apart sides 22 and 24 and a top 26. The top 26 is connected to the cover 14 at its upper edge thereof with the top 26 also including hinge elements 28. The hinge elements 28 are passed through openings 30 within the base plate 12. As a result, the cover 14 is hingedly connected with respect to the base plate 12.

The bottom edge of the cover 14 is flared at 32 outwardly with respect to the base plate when the cover 14 is in the closed position. The flared edge 32 also includes a serrated surface 34.

Upon the exterior surface of the cover 36 may be located indicia 36 which may take the form of either a drawing and/or writing. The indicia 36 is for the purpose of making the device 10 appealing to the eye and to cause a person to find it desirable to purchase the device of this invention. It is to be understood that a wide variety of different types of indicia could be employed.

The operation of the device of this invention is as follows: It will be presumed that a person is desirous of locating a match book 38 within the device 10 of this invention. The person opens the match book 38 and exposes the matches 39. The person then folds the cover of the match book back upon the base of the match book itself. Then the person places the match book adjacent the base plate 12 and then physically forces the lower edge of the match book into wedged frictional engagement with the lip 20. It has been presumed that the person previously has opened the device 10 of this invention permitting insertion of the match book 38.

With the match book 38 so inserted, the person can then move the cover 14 to the closed position. Within each side 22 and 24 is located a protrusion 40. Within each side 16 and 18 is located a recess 42. With the cover 14 in the closed position a single protrusion 40 cooperates within a single recess 42. Also when the cover is moved to the closed position, a slight interference fit occurs between the sides 22 and 24 and the respective cooperating sides 16 and 18. As a result, when in the closed position, the protrusions 40 cooperate within a respective recess 42 which results in a positive type of locking action to hold the device 10 in a closed position.

When it is desired to open the cover 14 and effect removal of a match 39, a person grasps with one hand the base plate 12 in the area of the lip and with the other hand the person contacts the flared edge 32 in the area of the serrated surface 34. The serrations 34 not only facilitate opening of the holder but also are ornamental. The person then forcibly effects pivoting movement of the cover 14 about the hinge elements 28 removing the protrusions 40 out of cooperation with the respective recess 42. The cover 14 is then pivoted to the open position which permits a person to extract a match 39 from the match book 38.

After the match has been extracted, the person can then easily in a single flipping movement move the cover 14 back to the closed position. The person can then strike the match 10 upon the striking surface 44 of the match book 38.

While it is understood that there is no structure herein cited which makes it absolutely necessary to effect closing of the cover 14 before the striking of the match 39 upon the striking surface 44, the closing of the cover is made so easy to accomplish that a person normally does close the cover before striking the match. With the cover 14 closed, it is not possible for a spark from a match being moved across the striking surface 44 to fly up and come into contact with the heads of the matches 29. Therefore, the device 10 of this invention provides an element of protection and makes the operation of a match book much safer.

The base plate 12 may also include an opening 21. The book of matches 38 may have advertising indicia thereon. By the inclusion of the opening 2! this advertising may be observed.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent 1. A match book holder to retain a match book which includes a striking surface adjacent its lower edge, said match book holder comprising:

a base plate adapted to be located adjacent the match book;

engagement means connected to the lower edge of said base plate, said engagement means to frictionally retain the lower edge of the match book but not extend above the lower edge of said striking surface, said engagement means comprises an elongated U-shaped lip;

a first side connected to said base plate at each lateral edge thereof, said first sides adapted to laterally confine the match book, the length of said first sides being such to not extend past the upper edge of said striking surface;

a cover hingedly connected to said base plate at its upper edge, said cover adapted to be located over the major portion of the match book when in the closed position butnot extend over said striking surface, said cover including laterally spaced apart second sides, a said second side to frictionally engage a said first side when in said closed position;

a retaining means to retain said cover in said closed position, said retaining means comprises cooperating elements between a said first side and a said second side;

the lower edge of said cover being flared outwardly away from said base plate; and

the edge of said flared cover being serrated, said serrations having a flattened outermost edge to facilitate gripping and pivoting of said cover in respect to said base plate. 

1. A match book holder to retain a match book which includes a striking surface adjacent its lower edge, said match book holder comprising: a base plate adapted to be located adjacent the match book; engagement means connected to the lower edge of said base plate, said engagement means to frictionally retain the lower edge of the match book but not extend above the lower edge of said striking surface, said engagement means comprises an elongated U-shaped lip; a first side connected to said base plate at each lateral edge thereof, said first sides adapted to laterally confine the match book, the length of said first sides being such to not extend past the upper edge of said striking surface; a cover hingedly connected to said base plate at its upper edge, said cover adapted to be located over the major portion of the match book when in the closed position but not extend over said striking surface, said cover including laterally spaced apart second sides, a said second side to frictionally engage a said first side when in said closed position; a retaining means to retain said cover in said closed position, said retaining means comprises cooperating elements between a said first side and a said second side; the lower edge of said cover being flared outwardly away frOm said base plate; and the edge of said flared cover being serrated, said serrations having a flattened outermost edge to facilitate gripping and pivoting of said cover in respect to said base plate. 